Touch Input Rumored for Google's Upcoming Chrome OS

Google has been focusing development on the netbook and tablet markets for some time now, using Android OS as a stepping stone into the sub-laptop operating system market. The first tablets featuring the Android OS have already arrived, with more on the way for 2010, which that begs the question: What of Google's other mobile software project, Chrome OS? Will it make its way onto tablets too?

Recently, TechRadar asked Google if the forthcoming mobile operating system would support touch input, implying that it would be featured on tablet or slate-like devices, to which Google's Anders Sandholm nervously responded that the operating system is designed to target everything from netbooks and "everything up to desktop computers".

Google's lack of explicit confirmation on the issue of touch input in Chrome OS--and Sandholm's less-than-confident response--may suggest it's intended as the software solution for competitors to Apple's newly announced iPad, according to TechRadar.

A handful of hardware manufacturers have slate-style mobile computers currently under development, with little information available regarding software or operating system options.

Will touch really make its way to Chrome OS? It's hard to say for sure; Sandholm's non-answer may not necessarily indicate anything, but given Chrome OS is still under development, we may want to watch this space.